Rocks and Shells Are Good for Hen Health

If bread is the staple of human life, calcium is its backbone Lacking calcium, the bones of every living creature, from people to flounders, wouldn’t exist Without calcium neither clams nor bird eggs would have shells Chickens, and especially laying hens, need plenty of it to maintain both their health and laying ability

 

Laying hens have a calcium dilemma When chickens were wild birds roaming the Southeast Asian woodlands, they would only lay one or two clutches of eggs a year, maybe two dozen total Every egg removes calcium from the hen’s body, but when she didn’t lay many eggs,

Egg Bound Hens…What to Do?

If you brought chicks home this spring, and if they haven’t started laying, they will soon! There’s nothing much better than collecting your first eggs! Maintaining a proper diet and keeping hens comfortable will allow them to produce incredible eggs and do it well When they lack proper nutrition, they can get into trouble Today we’re going to discuss what causes an egg bound hen, what to look for, and how to treat them So, let’s get started!

How to Stop Egg Eating

Most families tend a small backyard flock for the precious eggs hens generously give each day  Few human foods are as delicious or nutrient packed  Add the pride of caring for productive chickens as a benefit beyond food

Sometimes problems arise  Once in a while a hen becomes a thief She’ll eat eggs in the nest, making a mess in the process  It usually starts when a hen spots a cracked or broken egg in the nest, pecks the nutritious contents, and decides it’s a delicious addition to her diet An egg eater is a parasite that can’t be tolerated

Prevention

Got Soft Eggshells? Here’s How to Help

Can you believe we are in the middle of the summer already? If you are like our house, you have eggs coming out of your ears! Gathering eggs is one of my favorite chores

I sometimes get asked if I have trouble with soft eggshells or if the eggshells are so thin or they crack easily? If you are experiencing this with your girls, have no fear I can help!

Let’s start with why your hens might be laying soft shelled eggs and what you can do to help them

Hens can start laying soft shelled eggs for several reasons It can